Far-right Israeli Minister visits sensitive Jerusalem holy site

Itamar Ben-Gvir's visit threatens to disrupt Gaza ceasefire talks

Jerusalem: Israel’s far-right National Security Minister visited Jerusalem‘s most sensitive holy site on Thursday morning, threatening to disrupt Gaza ceasefire talks.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, an ultranationalist settler leader, said he had gone up to the contested Jerusalem hilltop compound of Al Aqsa Mosque to pray for the return of the hostages “but without a reckless deal.”

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The move by Itamar Ben-Gvir threatens to disrupt sensitive talks aimed at reaching a ceasefire in the nine-month-old Israel-Hamas war.

Jews and Muslims both claim the Jerusalem hilltop compound and visits like Ben-Gvir’s, while legal, are seen as a provocation.